Written Answers Monday 28 April 2008

Scottish Executive

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have entered the graduate diploma in audiology course at Queen Margaret University since the course began in 2005.

Fiona Hyslop: Since September 2005, 39 students have entered the Graduate Diploma in Audiology at Queen Margaret University.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have entered the BSc honours degree in audiology course at Queen Margaret University since 2005.

Fiona Hyslop: Since September 2005, 44 students have entered the BSc honours degree in audiology course at Queen Margaret University.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiologists have undertaken the continuing professional development course at Queen Margaret University since 2005.

Fiona Hyslop: Since September 2005, 111 audiologists have taken the continuing professional development training programme at Queen Margaret University.

Children in Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether they will develop an outcome agreement in terms of the local government concordat to ensure improved outcomes for young care leavers.

Adam Ingram: Single Outcome Agreements will be based on the government’s national outcomes and councils’ local outcomes. One of the 15 national outcomes is to increase life chances for children, young people and families at risk and local authorities may choose to prioritise young care leavers in that context. Where a council does so, we would expect to see appropriate outcomes and indicators included within its single outcome agreement.

  The introduction of single outcome agreements does not affect the existing statutory responsibilities placed on councils and their partners, including to providing support for young care leavers.

Children in Care

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-10584 by Adam Ingram on 6 March 2008, what specific commitments and outcomes there are in the local government settlement for looked-after children.

Adam Ingram: One of the 15 national outcomes is to increase life chances for children, young people and families at risk and local authorities may choose to prioritise looked after children in that context. Single outcome agreements will be based on the government’s national outcomes and councils’ local outcomes to reflect both national and local priorities. Where a council does so, we would expect to see appropriate outcomes and indicators included within its single outcome agreement.

  The introduction of single outcome agreements does not affect the existing statutory responsibilities placed on councils and their partners, including the provision of support for looked after children.

Class Sizes

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it believes that P1 to P3 class sizes will be reduced to 18 in Clydesdale.

Maureen Watt: We have signed an historic concordat with local government under which local government undertakes to make year on year progress on reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18. The concordat recognises that the rate of progress will vary between local authorities.

Class Sizes

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been given to South Lanarkshire Council to reduce P1 to P3 class sizes to 18 in Clydesdale.

Maureen Watt: We have signed an historic concordat with local government that provides record levels of funding of £34.9 billion over the spending review period. This represents an increase of 13.1%. In return, local government has agreed to reduce class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 as quickly as possible.

Communities Scotland

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11202 by Stewart Maxwell on 15 April 2008, how the savings of over £1 million per annum in staffing costs from the abolition of Communities Scotland will be secured.

Stewart Maxwell: The savings in staffing costs from the abolition of Communities Scotland have been secured by introducing the new, simpler and more streamlined structures for delivery of the Scottish Government’s housing and regeneration objectives.

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people have been registered with an NHS dentist in the (a) Dundee City Council and (b) Dundee Community Health Partnership area in each of the last two years, broken down by age group.

Shona Robison: Dundee City Council and Dundee Community Health Partnership (CHP) have the same geographical boundaries. As a result, the number of registrations is the same for both. Latest available information (as at 30 September 2006 and 2007) is presented in the following table.

  Dundee City Council/Dundee CHP Registrations1 by Age Group, as at 30 September

  

 
2006
2007


Number Registered
% of Population Registered
Number Registered
% of Population Registered


All Ages
91,297
64.2
96,395
67.8


0-2
1,949
42.8
2,097
46.0


3-5
3,345
81.5
3,783
92.1


6-12
9,481
93.7
9,871
97.6


13-17
6,897
81.3
7,342
86.5


18-24
7,295
41.5
7,837
44.6


25-34
10,511
58.2
10,940
60.6


35-44
14,965
77.7
15,108
78.4


45-54
13,835
75.9
14,572
80.0


55-64
11,256
69.6
12,006
74.2


65-74
7,370
55.3
7,812
58.6


75+
4,393
35.8
5,027
40.9



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Note: 1. Registrations are based on the postcode of the dental practice.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences of drug driving were recorded in the Lothians region in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency, also showing the rates per head of population.

Kenny MacAskill: Information held centrally is for the number of offences committed while unfit through drink or drugs, and cannot be separated. Nor can the data be broken down below local authority level, although the police force may be able to provide more detailed information. The following table shows the number of drink or drug-driving offences (including those involving the refusal to provide a test or sample) recorded by the Lothian and Borders police force.

  Number of Relevant Driving Offences1 Recorded by the Lothian and Borders police Force, Broken Down by Local Authority Area, 1999-2000 to 2006-07

  

Local Authority
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Edinburgh
274
211
194
228
196
157
221
216


East Lothian
39
30
28
32
36
21
23
25


Midlothian
50
23
41
31
45
26
38
48


Scottish Borders
48
51
23
37
39
40
49
41


West Lothian
102
105
140
113
82
85
108
105


Total Lothian and Borders
513
420
426
441
398
329
439
435



  Number of Relevant Driving Offences1 Recorded by the Lothian and Borders Police Force per 10,000 Population, Broken Down by Local Authority Area, 1999-2000 to 2006-07

  

Local Authority
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Edinburgh
6.13
4.71
4.32
5.09
4.37
3.46
4.83
4.66


East Lothian
4.38
3.34
3.10
3.53
3.95
2.29
2.51
2.69


Midlothian
6.20
2.84
5.06
3.85
5.65
3.27
4.80
6.05


Scottish Borders
4.54
4.80
2.15
3.45
3.60
3.66
4.47
3.72


West Lothian
6.59
6.69
8.80
7.06
5.09
5.22
6.59
6.34


Total Lothian and Borders
5.85
4.76
4.81
4.97
4.48
3.67
4.87
4.77



  Notes:

  Offences included are:

  Driving a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs.

  In charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs.

  Failure to co-operate with a preliminary test.

  Failure to provide a specimen at a police station.

  Offences specifically excluded are:

  Driving motor vehicle with blood alcohol content above prescribed limit.

  In charge of a motor vehicle while blood alcohol content above limit.

Employment

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated to the Get Ready to Work scheme in 2008-09.

Fiona Hyslop: It is the operational responsibility of Skills Development Scotland to decide the funding allocation for individual skills programmes in 2008-09.

  Skills Development Scotland will have a budget of £176 million for 2008-09. An initial breakdown of this budget was provided in section 7 of the Skills Development Scotland Operating Plan 2008-09 which was published on Monday 21 April. The Operating Plan can be accessed via the link below:

  http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/downloads/OperatingPlan2008-09.pdf.

Fuel Poverty

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Fuel Poverty Forum will next meet.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholders it has asked to take part in the Fuel Poverty Forum.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to develop a one-stop-shop approach on fuel poverty to reflect the decision taken by the Parliament on 13 March 2008.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is considering the introduction of a local tax rebate as part of its strategy on fuel poverty to reflect the decision taken by the Parliament on 13 March 2008.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is considering changes to planning rules to make it easier to install micropower as part of its strategy on fuel poverty to reflect the decision taken by the Parliament on 13 March 2008.

Stewart Maxwell: The Fuel Poverty Forum ceased meeting under the previous administration. It’s last meeting occurred on 20 June 2006.

  Our internal review of fuel poverty begun in late 2007 is nearing completion and we will share its outcomes with the Parliament shortly. Further action on fuel poverty, including the decisions taken by the Parliament after the fuel poverty debate on 13 March 2008 and the involvement of stakeholders, will be considered in the light of that review.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients who have had myocardial infarction are prescribed omega 3 fatty acids by the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: SIGN Guideline 57 on cardiac rehabilitation draws attention to secondary prevention guidelines issued by the British Dietetic Association which emphasise the increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. Cardiologists, who are responsible for decisions regarding medication following a myocardial infarction recognise the potential benefits from omega-3 fatty acids.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is proposing a review of the guidelines for the care of patients following myocardial infarction.

Nicola Sturgeon: The review of clinical guidelines is a matter for NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

  The care of patients immediately after a myocardial infarction (MI) is set out in SIGN Guideline 93 on Acute Coronary Syndromes (February 2007). The longer term of care of people who have had an MI is covered by SIGN Guideline 57 (January 2002) on cardiac rehabilitation.

Health

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the health and wellbeing profile will be available for the East Ayrshire Community Health Partnership area.

Shona Robison: The health and wellbeing profile for the East Ayrshire Community Health Partnership area will be released on 24 June by Information Services Division Scotland

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many falls involving hospital patients were recorded in each year since 2003, broken down by NHS board.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the criteria for recording patient falls in hospital are consistent in each NHS board.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients who were recorded as falling in hospital sustained additional injury as a result in each year since 2003, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of falls and recording of such falls within hospitals is not held centrally. Recording and investigating the circumstances of falls and subsequent action is the responsibility of NHS boards.

  Following the work of the Falls Prevention Group, the Scottish Government issued guidance last year which included advice for NHS boards, Community Health Partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health. The guidance is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

  The guidance set out a number of recommendations for NHS boards to do locally, including the need for accurate recording and reporting of incidents, including falls.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training has been given to frontline NHS staff over the last four years to help to reduce the risk of patients falling while in hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is the responsibility of NHS boards to provide relevant training for their staff.

  Following the work of the falls prevention group, the Scottish Government issued guidance last year which included advice for NHS boards, community health partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health. The letter is available on the Scottish Government web site at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

  The guidance set out a number of recommendations for NHS boards to promote falls prevention, including appropriate falls awareness education and support and guidance for all staff, regardless of their role in the hospital, where patients may be at risk of falling.

Housing

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish rent collection figures for each local authority since 1997, broken down by total rent (a) due for collection, (b) collected and (c) the percentage of which has actually been collected.

Stewart Maxwell: Total rent due for collection is not held centrally, however table 1 shows local authority rental income from housing between 1997-98 and 2006-07. Table 2 shows housing rent arrears at 31 December each year, except for 1997 (as at 30 September), and 2006-07 (as at 31 March).

  Table 1 - Standard Rental Income from Houses (£ Million)

  

 
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Scotland
1,071.1
1,090.9
1,086.0
1,092.8
1,089.2
1,077.6
838.5
842.5
849.7
837.3


Aberdeen City 
43.1
50.0
48.4
49.8
51.1
52.2
52.5
54.8
57.2
59.4


Aberdeenshire 
26.2
26.4
26.7
27.0
27.7
28.3
28.8
29.8
30.8
31.4


Angus 
13.8
14.6
15.1
15.8
16.2
16.5
16.7
17.1
17.5
17.3


Argyll and Bute 
13.3
13.6
13.2
13.4
13.8
14.1
14.1
13.5
13.3
n/a


Clackmannanshire 
10.2
10.5
10.5
10.6
11.2
11.9
11.3
11.7
11.9
12.2


Dumfries and Galloway 
24.5
23.9
23.9
23.8
39.5
24.7
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a


Dundee City
43.7
43.5
42.4
41.7
24.4
38.0
38.0
37.8
37.5
37.2


East Ayrshire
27.6
28.6
28.9
31.6
31.8
31.5
31.0
32.5
32.0
31.9


East Dunbartonshire
10.3
11.1
11.3
11.7
11.8
11.9
11.8
9.6
10.9
10.0


East Lothian 
16.1
16.6
17.0
17.1
17.3
17.2
16.8
16.1
16.2
16.0


East Renfrewshire 
6.7
7.0
7.3
7.5
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.6
7.6
7.4


Edinburgh, City of
75.2
72.8
70.2
67.8
65.2
64.7
63.0
63.1
61.9
63.2


Eilean Siar
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.2
4.3
4.5
n/a


Falkirk 
34.9
35.7
36.1
39.2
39.7
41.1
40.7
40.4
40.2
40.0


Fife 
66.2
67.2
68.5
69.7
70.0
71.7
72.0
73.8
74.8
74.9


Glasgow City 
216.5
219.8
216.8
211.4
207.7
194.3
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a


Highland 
39.6
40.2
39.8
39.5
38.4
37.9
37.6
37.8
37.7
37.7


Inverclyde 
23.5
24.7
24.4
23.6
23.4
23.4
24.0
25.2
23.5
22.7


Midlothian
11.0
11.6
11.2
11.5
12.2
11.7
11.0
11.3
12.0
12.7


Moray 
11.1
11.3
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
11.5
11.6
11.6
11.6


North Ayrshire
29.3
29.5
28.9
29.6
29.1
29.7
30.0
30.3
31.2
32.4


North Lanarkshire 
86.8
89.1
91.6
92.8
93.4
93.9
94.5
94.6
95.6
96.1


Orkney Islands 
1.8
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7


Perth and Kinross 
15.3
15.9
16.0
16.2
16.6
16.2
16.7
16.5
17.4
17.6


Renfrewshire 
38.9
39.9
39.9
41.3
39.5
37.3
35.6
35.6
37.3
37.7


Scottish Borders 
13.0
12.9
12.5
12.8
12.7
12.1
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a


Shetland Islands 
4.4
4.8
5.1
5.1
5.1
5.2
5.2
5.0
5.0
5.0


South Ayrshire 
19.0
19.0
19.0
19.4
20.0
20.2
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.3


South Lanarkshire 
71.7
73.1
72.5
71.7
71.3
69.7
68.3
65.9
65.7
66.0


Stirling
15.6
14.7
14.8
14.9
14.8
14.6
14.2
14.7
14.3
14.3


West Dunbartonshire
26.7
26.7
26.3
26.8
27.6
27.3
26.6
27.5
27.7
27.9


West Lothian
31.2
30.7
30.8
32.3
32.4
35.3
33.1
32.8
32.6
32.8



  Source: Housing Revenue Account returns to the Scottish Government.

  Table 2 - Rent arrears (£ Million)

  

 
Sept 1997
Dec 1998
Dec 1999
Dec 2000
Dec 2001
Dec 2002
Dec 2003
Dec 2004
Dec 2005
Mar 2007


Scotland
40.3
50.5
54.8
60.4
55.2
57.3
38.0
31.9
41.5
41.1


Aberdeen City 
1.4
1.9
2.1
2.4
2.2
2.4
2.5
2.6
6.8
7.1


Aberdeenshire 
0.4
0.8
0.5
0.8
0.7
1.4
0.7
0.8
1.9
1.6


Angus 
0.3
0.2
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.8
1.1


Argyll and Bute 
0.2
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.4
n/a


Clackmannanshire 
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.4
1.0
0.8
0.4
0.8
0.8


Dumfries and Galloway 
0.6
0.9
0.9
0.5
1.0
1.2
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a


Dundee City
1.3
1.3
1.5
1.5
1.4
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.0
1.4


East Ayrshire
1.2
1.6
1.9
2.7
1.5
1.0
0.7
0.6
0.9
1.0


East Dunbartonshire
0.9
1.2
1.3
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.8


East Lothian 
0.7
0.7
1.1
1.4
1.0
1.0
0.8
0.6
1.1
1.1


East Renfrewshire 
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.2
0.3


Edinburgh, City of
2.2
2.6
2.2
2.4
2.2
2.6
2.9
3.2
3.0
2.9


Eilean Siar
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
n/a


Falkirk 
1.3
1.4
1.5
2.1
2.0
2.0
1.6
1.4
1.0
1.5


Fife 
2.5
3.0
3.4
3.7
3.9
2.7
2.6
3.3
3.3
2.6


Glasgow City 
12.7
13.9
16.9
18.7
18.3
19.0
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a


Highland 
1.1
1.1
1.4
1.8
1.7
1.9
1.1
1.3
2.3
2.9


Inverclyde 
1.5
1.7
2.1
2.2
2.0
1.9
2.3
1.0
3.3
2.7


Midlothian
0.4
0.8
1.0
1.1
0.9
1.0
0.5
0.8
1.0
1.1


Moray 
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.5
0.3


North Ayrshire
1.2
2.0
2.2
2.1
1.1
1.5
1.3
1.0
0.8
1.0


North Lanarkshire 
2.2
2.2
2.1
2.0
1.7
1.8
4.9
1.6
1.6
1.4


Orkney Islands 
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0


Perth and Kinross 
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.6
0.8


Renfrewshire 
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.1
1.7
1.3
2.5
1.9
2.2
2.1


Scottish Borders 
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a


Shetland Islands 
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1


South Ayrshire 
0.5
2.5
1.7
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.7


South Lanarkshire 
1.5
2.3
1.5
2.5
2.1
2.1
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.2


Stirling
1.1
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.0
0.7


West Dunbartonshire
1.0
2.3
2.4
3.7
2.9
2.7
2.6
1.5
1.5
2.4


West Lothian
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.9
1.1
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.4



  Source: Housing Revenue Account and Rent Arrears returns to the Scottish Government.

  Notes:

  - Figures exclude rental income and arrears from non-housing properties, such as hostels, lock ups, garages or shops.

  - Total rent arrears are at 31 December each year, except for 1997 (30 September) and 2007 (31 March).

  - Excludes technical arrears where the tenant has agreed with the council to pay their rent fortnightly in arrears.

  - Figures may include arrears originating from previous years.

  - Following housing stock transfer, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow, Scottish Borders, Eilean Siar, Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde are excluded.

Justice

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the police give appropriate priority to apprehending absconders from prison, in light of the circumstances surrounding the case of Robert Foye.

Kenny MacAskill: The apprehension of absconders from prison is an operational matter for Chief Constables working with the Crown Office and Scottish Prison Service.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have been recorded in Fife in each year since 2000-01 for offences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 relating to sales of alcohol to those under the age of 18 and how many prosecutions for these offences are presently pending.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. The Scottish Government court proceedings database does not hold data on pending cases and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management system does not record pending cases in a comparable format to the data provided.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Selling Alcohol to Persons under 181, in Fife Courts,

  2000-01 to 2005-06

  

 
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Persons Proceeded Against
6
1
-
5
1
-


Persons with a Charge Proved
3
1
-
3
-
-



  Note: 1. Where main offence. Includes prosecutions under Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 sections 68(1)and 90A(2).

National Health Service

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to expand the eligibility criteria for NHS vouchers to allow more people to access help with the costs of glasses and, if so, what those plans are.

Shona Robison: There are no current plans to amend the NHS voucher scheme to extend the categories of people entitled to a voucher.

National Health Service

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to help people who do not qualify for the NHS voucher scheme to help with the cost of glasses and, if so, what those plans are.

Shona Robison: There are no current plans to provide help with the cost of glasses to people who do not qualify under the NHS voucher scheme.

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-10620 which received a holding answer on 17 March 2008

Bruce Crawford: S3W-10620 was answered on 25 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-10618 which received a holding answer on 17 March 2008.

Bruce Crawford: S3W-10618 was answered on 25 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made on the number of additional facilities that will be required to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Maureen Watt: It is a matter for each local authority to assess and decide whether upgrading of facilities, indoor and outdoor, is necessary to support this aspect of the curriculum in individual schools and then to prioritise investment according to the resources available.

  The government has provided almost £3 billion in capital over the three year period 2008-11 to secure investment in schools and other local government infrastructure, including an extra £115 million capital in 2008-09 and the subsequent two years. This will help to continue to secure investment in schools’ PE and sports facilities.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why, according to the Scottish Government’s website, the Scottish Prison Commission has not met this year.

Kenny MacAskill: The independent Scottish Prison Commission’s website, now gives details of its meetings since it was set up in September 2007. www.scottishprisonscommission.info .

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations and individuals have submitted evidence to the Scottish Prison Commission.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is available from the independent Scottish Prison Commission’s website at www.scottishprisonscommission.info .

Prison Service

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the costs associated with reoffending by former prisoners met from the Scottish block grant.

Kenny MacAskill: The information is not held in the manner requested.

Prison Service

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what proportion of (i) male and (ii) female prisoners in each year since 2002 used Category A drugs in the year before entering prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Annual Prisoner Survey asks the question "did you use illegal drugs in the 12 months before being in prison". The self-reported responses from prisoners regarding the use of Class "A" drugs during this period are set out in the following table. The question was first used in 2004. Therefore, data for 2002 and 2003 are not available.

  

 
2004
2005
2006
2007


Overall Survey Response Rate (%)
77%
77%
73%
74%


Those answering "yes" to the question: "Did you use illegal drugs in the 12 months before being in prison?" (% and n=actual number)
*
67% (n=2780)
67% (n=2830)
69% (n=2844)


Male
 
 
 
 


Male respondents answering "yes" to the question: "Did you use illegal drugs in the 12 months before being in prison?" 
79% (n=3007)
67% (n=2541)
67% (n=2449)
68% (n=2374)


Heroin
37% (n=1423)
52% (n=1309)
51% (n=1240)
51% (n=1221)


Cocaine
36% (n=1372)
56% (n=1415)
58% (n=1416)
61% (n=1442)


Ecstasy
31% (n=1166)
43% (n=1100)
42% (n=1020)
46% (n=1088)


Methadone
14% (n=535)
19% (n=477)
20% (n=502)
21% (n=510)


Other Opiates
24% (n=893)
29% (n=731)
27% (n=665)
27% (n=632)


Female
 
 
 
 


Female respondents answering "yes" to the question: "Did you use illegal drugs in the 12 months before being in prison?" 
85% (n=208)
70% (n=173)
73% (n=143)
67% (n=137)


Heroin
57% (n=139)
79% (n=137)
72% (n=103)
77% (n=106)


Cocaine
39%(n=94)
51%(n=88)
49%(n=70)
48%(n=66)


Ecstasy
25%(n=61)
31%(n=53)
23%(n=33)
23%(n=31)


Methadone
24%(n=59)
31%(n=54)
29%(n=42)
26%(n=36)


Other Opiates
30%(n=74)
34%(n=59)
28%(n=40)
31%(n=42)



  Source: SPS Prisoner Surveys 2004 to 2007.

  Note: *In 2004, prisoners were not asked if they used drugs in the 12 months before being in prison, but were asked what drugs they used in the 12 months before being in prison.

Prison Service

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners participated in drug rehabilitation while in prison in each year since 2002 and what proportion of the total prison population they represented in these years.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The available information is provided in the following table, which details drug-related interventions provided in Scottish prisons. The information provided is based on entries to prison, rather than average population numbers, as this is a more accurate reflection of the annual throughput.

  

 
2005-06
%
2006-07
%


Total recorded entries into prisons
23,593
100%
26,195
100%


Number of prisoners who attended the National Harm Reduction Awareness Session on Admission1
17,373
74%
17,078
65%



  Note: 1. The National Harm Reduction Awareness Session is offered to all prisoners on admission (unless they have attended within the previous six months).

  

 
2005-06
%
2006-07
%


Number of eligible prisoners offered an addictions assessment2
5,657
100%
4,546
100%


Number of prisoners that accepted and undertook an addictions assessment
4,400
78%
4,051
89%



  Note: 2. Addiction assessments are offered to prisoners serving a sentence of 31 days or more. Prisoners serving less than 31 days are not offered this assessment due to the short length of stay, but are referred to either voluntary throughcare or national throughcare addictions service, dependent on criteria.

  

 
2005-06
2006-07


Number of one-to-one motivational support sessions delivered3
9,668
12,298


Number of prisoners who attended pre-release harm reduction groupwork session4
580
775


Number of prisoners who attended a drug rehabilitation programme5
636
661



  Notes:

  3. Motivational Interventions are delivered on an individualised assessed need basis.

  4. In these years, only prisoners serving sentences of two years or more were offered to participate in a Pre-Release Harm Reduction Groupwork Session prior to release.

  5. The 636 completed drug rehabilitation programmes during 2005-06 equates to a total of 19,939 learning hours, compared to 661 completed in 2006-07 equating to a total of 21,447 learning hours.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about a reduction in expertise within the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as a direct result of its current pay and grading imposition exercise.

Michael Russell: The levels of knowledge and expertise required of SEPA staff, together with pay and grading, are all operational matters for SEPA’s management team, within overall financial limits set by the Scottish Government, and in accordance with policies and guidance on public sector pay. I have asked Dr Campbell Gemmell, Chief Executive of SEPA, to respond direct to the detailed issue you have raised.

Sport

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when an interim site will be identified for the first phase of sportscotland’s headquarters moving from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

Stewart Maxwell: It is anticipated that an interim site will be identified by June 2008.

Sport

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated cost is of the two-stage approach to sportscotland’s relocation from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

Stewart Maxwell: It is too early to give accurate costs for interim accommodation in Glasgow as these will depend on the particular location; however it is anticipated that the total cost of relocation for both stages will still be the £7.9 million as previously announced by the Scottish Government, the majority of which would occur over the period 2008-10.

Sport

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why sportscotland’s relocation from Edinburgh to Glasgow will involve two moves.

Stewart Maxwell: It is anticipated that the new sportscotland HQ at the site of the National Indoor Sports Arena will not be ready until 2011 and therefore it is crucial that key staff are in place as early as possible in the lead up to the 2014 Games.

  It has always been our intention to relocate sportscotland at the earliest opportunity to ensure that the new organisation is in place five years before the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sport

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to minimise the disruption to sportscotland’s staff as a result of the two-stage relocation.

Stewart Maxwell: Sportscotland is putting in place appropriate HR procedures to support business continuity as the move to Glasgow is implemented. A key feature of this is the staff transition which will ensure that all key functions are delivered.

Sport

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to minimise the disruption to Scottish sport as a result of the sportscotland’s two-stage relocation.

Stewart Maxwell: Sportscotland is putting in place appropriate HR procedures to support business continuity as the move to Glasgow is implemented. A key feature of this is the staff transition which will ensure that all key functions are delivered and which will allow services to partners to remain effective.

Sport

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the difference in cost will be of a two-stage relocation of sportscotland in comparison with a one-stage move from its current location to the National Indoor Sports Arena in 2010.

Stewart Maxwell: It is not yet possible to identify actual costs for each stage of the relocation process, however it is anticipated that once staffing costs and packages are finalised, the total cost for both stages will still be £7.9 million as previously announced by the Scottish Government, the majority of which would occur over the period 2008-10.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Building

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many users were consulted about changes to workplace lighting in the MSP block prior to the lighting above desk areas being permanently switched off at a cost of £8,000.

Alex Johnstone: : The lights above desks in the MSP building have not been permanently switched off. The lighting controls in the area have been amended to allow the lights above researcher’s desks to be switched off by the central lighting system when the desks are mostly likely to be unoccupied; previously these lights were on 24 hours a day. This will reduce electricity use in the building and contribute towards our environmental policy to improve energy efficiency. These changes will reduce electricity and maintenance costs and will pay for themselves in approximately three years.

  All members and their staff were informed by e-mail of the changes which were due to be made to the area, but it is accepted that more detail could have been provided and consultation on the details of the changes undertaken. The evolving needs of building users will be taken into account and the lights programmed accordingly.

  The Parliament’s consumption of energy needs to be managed responsibly and the support of all building users in achieving our energy reduction targets is appreciated.

Parliament Building

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body who authorised the changes to workplace lighting in the MSP block.

Alex Johnstone: The decision to reduce energy consumption in the members’ building by changing lighting controls was taken by the Director of Technology and Facilities Management. The Environmental Performance Manager developed the details of the scheme.

Parliament Building

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what estimates have been made of energy usage in the Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday evenings compared with that on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Alex Johnstone: Based on electricity used in the building between 1 March and 19 April 2008, on average 4,141kWh of electricity was used on Monday and Tuesday evenings (18:00 to 24:00) and 4,210kWh on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, a difference of 1.6% in terms of overall usage.